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Comments Off on Catherine Haddad-Staller & Semper Fidelis Consolidate Position at Top of USA World Games Pre-Selection Rankings

Catherine Haddad-Staller and Semper Fidelis consolidated their position at the top of the United States’ World Equestrian Games rankings after two months of pre-selection for the team short list.

In their inaugural two Big Tour shows both in Europe and just a month apart, Catherine and the 11-year-old Oldenburg mare posted a score 72.400 per cent in the Grand Prix at Le Mans, France Oct. 19. A month earlier the pair were awarded 72.240 per cent at Darmstadt, Germany.

Catherine, based in Califon, New Jersey but will move into her new facility in Loxahatchee, Florida for the winter-long Adequan Global Dressage Festival circuit in neighboring Wellington.

Ashley Holzer, the four-time Olympian for Canada who now rides for America, has posted two Grand Prix scores above 70 per cent on Havanna, while P.J. Rizvi on Breaking Dawn also has two results above 70 per cent.

The Wellington calendar comprises four World Cup events, a top rated CDI5* and a CDI4* as well as the only Nations Cup outside Europe. Among those to compete will be Laura Graves and Verdades, ranked No. 3 in the world; Olympic team mate Kasey Perry-Glass on Dublet; Olympic rider Adrienne Lyle on Salvino just seven months at Big Tour; Olivia LaGoy-Weltz on Lonoir successful on Nations Cup teams in Europe this summer, as well as Katherine Bateson-Chandler on Alcazar, Shelly Francis on Doktor and Danilo and Arlene “Tuny” Page on Woodstock.

The expanded California winter circuit will see Steffen Peters on Rosamunde and the Helen Langehanenberg developed Supenkasper; Dawn White-O’Connor on Legolas, Charlotte Jorst on Nintendo (Lorenzo has not yet shown since being acquired), and Kathleen Raine on Breanna.

The pre-selection period began Sept. 1, requiring three scores with two in 2018 of Grand Prix, scores at any CDI or CDN within the last 12 months, ranking from qualifying competitions, consistency of scores above 73 per cent and the trend in all scores. Previous international experience, potential to contribute to medal-winning team and behavior of athlete and connections that may have an impact on “creating a positive team environment” will also be considered.